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NFL Week 1 betting odds: 5 best bets against the spread

By Brad Rowland

Dec 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (55) prepares to snap the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (55) prepares to snap the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pittsburgh Steelers (-7) over Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs the ball past Cleveland Browns defensive back Jordan Poyer (33) and linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) in the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) runs the ball past Cleveland Browns defensive back Jordan Poyer (33) and linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) in the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 20-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /

The Browns are bad.

Cleveland has received a great deal of attention in advance of the 2014 season, from the movie “Draft Day” to the selection of Johnny Manziel, but this was a team that struggled to generate offense last year with Josh Gordon (the leading receiver in the league), and this season, they are playing without him.

Yes, running back Ben Tate and a healthy Brian Hoyer under center should help, but barring a defensive renaissance, this is a bad football team.

Enter the Steelers, who spent the off-season licking their wounds after a catastrophic defensive season (by their standards), and who put in some work in developing the offensive line. Ben Roethlisberger dominates against middling opponents, and with an improved front seven that (currently) stands healthy, Pittsburgh can be trusted to cover in their home building.

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